Volleyball Sweeps Iowa State In Big 12 Opener :: Oklahoma dominates Cyclones 30-24, 30-18, 30-17.

	">Printer-Friendly Format ">E-mail this article Sophomore middle blocker Candice Woods had 11 kills and five block assists.

Volleyball Sweeps Iowa State In Big 12 Opener

Oklahoma dominates Cyclones 30-24, 30-18, 30-17.

Sept. 18, 2002

Final Stats

NORMAN, Okla. - For the second consecutive season the Oklahoma volleyball team began the Big 12 season with a victory inside the Howard McCasland Field House. This time the victim was the Iowa State Cyclones, who fell 30-24, 30-18, 30-17, and drop to 9-3 on the season and 0-1 in Big 12 play. OU improves to 3-6 overall and 1-0 in the Big 12.

"Last night I didn't sleep well because I was nervous about the Big 12 opener," said Head Coach Kalani Mahi. "Tonight we played at the level we are capable of. What impressed me most was that we made big plays in pressure situations. Denise Griffin was clutch a couple times and our attackers were finishing the job."

Senior outside hitter Megan O'Connell led Oklahoma with 12 kills. Close behind were, Junior outside hitter Christina Barlow and sophomore middle blocker Candice Woods with 10 and 11 kills, respectively. Woods also led the Sooners in hitting percentage at .500 (11K-2E-18TA). Freshman Jennifer Adams posted a .375 (4-1-8) hitting percentage. At the end of game two, Woods and Barlow were hitting at an astonishing pace. Woods was hitting at .747, while Barlow was at .672.

On the defensive side, O'Connell produced a match high six block assists, Woods, who currently ranks fourth in the Big 12 in blocks per game, had five block assists, as did Adams. Senior libero Denise Griffin led OU with 15 digs. Senior Lindsay Hoyt dug 8 balls as well.

"Oklahoma did a great job of coming out poised tonight," said Iowa State Head Coach Linda Crum. "They did a great job of competing."

For Oklahoma this marks the second consecutive victory over Iowa State and 11 of the last 13. OU has now won three of their last four contests, a first since 2000.

"Tonight was the first time we have finished a team when we should," said Mahi. "We never backed down and put them away efficiently."

Oklahoma travels to Lawrence, Kan., to take on the Kansas Jayhawks Saturday at 2 p.m. inside the Horejsi Family Athletics Center. OU split with Kansas last season. The Jayhawks are 9-1 coming into the contest, after having a nine game winning streak snapped by No. 17 Texas A&M tonight, losing 3-0.

Oklahoma stops off to battle the University of Texas Sept. 25, before returning to the McCasland Field House to play Baylor at 2 p.m. Sept. 28, just hours before the football team kickoff against South Florida.

Sept. 28 is "Super Sooner Saturday," so make a day of it by catching both teams. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children. Oklahoma students get free admission with valid student I.D.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Volleyball Sweeps Iowa State In Big 12 Opener :: Oklahoma dominates Cyclones 30-24, 30-18, 30-17.

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